Steam iron



Nov. 9, 1943. A. SUSSMA-N 2,333,693

STEAMTRON Filed Nov. 22, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 \w r /0 a; 2%3 in? M I Nov. 9, 1943. A. sussMAN 2,333,693

STEAM IRON Filed Nov. 22, 1939 2 sheetsshee t 2 34 r lei-7b Illi. 1

If anything, the amount of heat extracted from' spares aerator PAT "if;

2,333,693 STEAM moi:

Arthur Sussman, New York, 1. Y. Application November 22 1939, Serial No. 305,724 3 ohms. (cl. 38-777 The present invention relates to steam irons. More particularly, the present invention relates to a steam iron which is especially suited to the treatment of relatively fragile materials, said iron being provided with meansfor feeding steam to such materials so as to prevent injury thereof.

In the glazing of furs and similar materials, it is desirable that steam applied to the fur be as damp as possible. Although this objective has long been recognized as desirable, it has not been attained in an iron containing a heating unit. When steam is generated outside of the iron and. the steam used for the sole heating means,- the operator can generate any suitable quality of steam, that is, steam that is wet or dry and suitable for the purposes for which it is used. Since the steam itself furnishes the heating means for the iron in an iron of the steam heat ing type, the steam will not be superheat d nor will the quality thereof he appreciably changed.

the steam will serveto cool-the same and the quality thereof will be decreased. In other words. the amount of free moisture in the steam will be increased. However, in an iron which has its own steam generating unit and in irons oi the type which although supplied with steam, contain a heating unit of some character such as a gas or electrical heating unit, the steam supplied or generated is superheated by the relatively hot iron body.

This superheating may take place in a separate steam channel or chamber or it may take place as the steam is ejected from the iron through the pressing surface, this being particularly true since the pressing surface itself is normally metal and furnishes a source of heat which is effective both on thesteam being ejected as well as on the material being treated.

Another-problem which is peculiar to steam ,40 irons wherein steam is ejected through a surface and which are adapted to the treatment of fur ,l silks, either synthetic or natural and other delicate materials, is the problem of the even distribution of steam through the pressing face.

In the conventional steam iron, the steam is ejected through the pressing face by means of a plurality of relatively minute perforations. These perforations are objectionable in 'as much as they r are likely to become clogged during use by dope 60 sition from the steam passing through theperforations. At the same time, the steam is only applied to the object being treated in local zones corresponding to the orifice no matter. how minute. This uneven application of steam to a 55 delicate material, as for example, of fur or the character of Moutan iur, will result in streaking the surface. The use of relatively small orifices is also undesirable, because such an orifice results in a yerysreat decrease in steam pressure .-and since the pressure of the steam is thus sharply decreased, the steam will become dryer in the passage through the minute perforations.

It isone of the obiects of this invention therefore to provide a steam iron either of th self generating or steam supplied, type having a pressing face which will be incapable of superheating the steam.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in an iron or the character described, a

I pressing face which is capable of cooling or desuperheating the steam passing therethrough.

A third object of the present invention is the provision in a steam iron of a pressing face formed of a non-hygroscopic heat insulating may terial which is incapable of transmitting heat from the heating unit of the iron to the steam passing therethroush. x

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide in a steam iron, a surface material which is capable of Ming inserted into the conventional pressing race and is composed of a non-hygroscopic material having a low thermal conductivity.

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide in a steam iron, a relatively long and la e steam outlet which will be incapable of substantially. diminishing the steam pressure while at thesame time evenly distributing the steam over the material being treated.

A sixth object of the present invention is to provide a. steam outlet in the pressing face of the steam iron comprising a relatively long slot which is provided with; a member constitutin a baille for the steam being emitted and capable of evenly dividing the steam thus emitted and applied to a material.

A seventh object of the present invention is the provision in a steam iron of a non-hygroscopic, low thermal conductivity pressing surface provided with a relatively long and large steam outlet suitably bafied to insure even distribution of steam.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the accompanying drawings and description.

In the drawings: V

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken along the line 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan viewof the base Figure 7 is a section taken along the line I- of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a broken away vertical section illustrating a modified pressing surface.

Figure 9 is a broken away vertical section illustrating still another modification of the pressing surface.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional detail illus-, trating a modification of the steam bafiiing means.

Referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated a steam iron provided with a body indicated in general by the reference numeral I Ii, and provided with an upper portion Ii, which may be cast integrally of any suitable metal and a lower portion I2, provided with a pressing surface or sole i3.- The iron proper is provided with a handle I4 of any suitable type, which is provided with a wooden or plastic portion is shaped to be grasped by the palm of the user, and a pair of ears I 3 and H, which are adapted to be fastened by bolts I 8 and IE to the iron II]. It is to be noted that the bolts [8 and I3 are provided with suitable heads and with threaded portions 20 and 2|, which are adapted to cooperate with suitable nuts 22 and 23. fastened into the lower portion l2. The bolts l8 and I3 thus serve to not only-retain the handle on the base of the iron, but also to hold together the portions II and I2. The upper portion of the iron II is preferabh' provided with a hollowed-out section 24 in its base, which is adapted to form a chamber closed by the upper surface of the lower iron portion l2. Within the chamber thus formed there is provided a heating element 25 of the usual type consisting of a plurality of fiat strips of resistance material wound upon a suitable insulating core and separated from the remainder of the iron by a suitable insulating material, such as mica. At the rear end of the portion Ii there is provided another hollow portion 26, which is adapted to contain a pair of terminals 21 of the usual type. The ends of these terminals roject through the upper-surface of the iron at 28 and are adapted to fit into the usual connecting plug.

by the knob 3|. it serves to shut off the flow o current'to the heating element 25. When th thermostat cools down it also serves to once agaii supply current to the heating unit 25.

Formed in the body of the iron [0 are a plu rality of heating channels. These channels an vertically spaced one from the other and are 0 general V-shape. As shown in Figure 1, then are four sets of channels 32, 33, 34 and 35. Th channel 32, which is shown in detail in Figure 2 has a feed or supply channel 36, communicatim with its forward end, as at 36a. The fOl'Wflll end of this channel is open to the pressing surface l3 as by a pair of slots 31 and 38. The channel 32 is also provided with a spring membei 33, for a purpose to be hereinafter described Located in the lower portion l2 of the iron, am Just above the channel 32, is a channel 33, whict functions to heat the water fed to the iron. I1 may be noted that the channel 33 surrounds am is in close proximity to the thermostat 23. Twr sets of channels are provided in the upper portior ll of the iron, which are designated by the reference numerals 34 and 35. The channel 34 1: located Just above the heating unit and is the main steam-producing channel of the iron whereas the channel 36 is a dead end or pressure equalizing channel. It may be noted that both channels 33 and 34 are provided with metal springs 33:: and 34:; throughout their length. The metal springs in these channels serve to pro- 'mote a better heat transfer to the steam and water passing therethrough. The channel 35 does not contain a spring, since the function of this channel'is to act merely as a pressure equalizing chamber, as best described in applicant's Patent No. 2,263,532. The steam generated in the other channels is conducted to the supply channel 36 by suitable connecting means and pressing face ll of the iron.

passes through the slots 31 and '33 out of the It is to be noted that the springs 33 in the channel 32 serve to subdivide the steam and, therefore, enables the use of-relatively wide slots 31 and 33. In the irons of the prior art, relatively small perforations are used, 'which are subject to many disadvantages. The slot'of the present iron is preferably of approximately one-sixteenth of aninch in width and is provided with a spring having convolutions approximately one-sixteenth of an inch apart.

A hollow portion is provided in the upper surface art, so that the heating unit 25 may be operated at a plurality, of heating temperatures. It is to be understood that the thermostat is connected in circuit between the terminals 21 and the heating unit 25, so that it serves to regulate the flow of current through the heating unit and when the thermostat is subjected to a temperature in .excess of theupper heating limit, as regulated .cated by reference numeral 41. member-41 may be held in a suitable depression The slots 31 and 38 are shown in detail in Figures 2, 4 and 5. In Figure 5 a modification is shown wherein the slots are formed in a suitable insulating member which is formed of a suitable material such as "'Iransite and indi The-insulating 48 in the pressing face or sole of the iron and is held in position as by screws 43 and 50. The Transite plate 41 is provided with a supply channel 5| which performs a similar function to the supply channel 36 of Figure 2. The elbow 46 in this modification communicates with a short duct or conduit 52 which is suitably held in the channel 5| of the Transite insert. The insert is also provided with springs 33 which are entirely similar to springs 39 disclosed in Figure 2. As previously stated, the slots are approximately one-sixteenth of an inch wide and the distance between the convolutions of the springs are approximately one-sixteenth of an inch apart. It is to be understood that the Transite" insert may extend over any portion of the pressing face. In lieu of an insert, the

entire pressing face or lower section of the iron may be formed of a suitable insulating mate- 'of having passed through a series of exceedingly but is materially cheaper to manufacture as the necessity for drilling a number of individual holes is eliminated. The longitudinal slots 31 and 38 may be cast in the bottom member of the iron or in the" insert portion where the material used lends. itself to such an operation or it may be cut by means of a suitable tool. Various other materials may be substituted for the Transite which is a trade-marked material manufactured by the Johns-Manville Corporation comprised of a fibrous material such as asbestos incorporated in a suitable binder such as Portland cement. As an example of a suitable material, the insert may be of glass or of a suitable mineral composition. Another exam pie is porcelain or a similar ceramic material. In some instances it may be desirable to use as an' insulating material a, relatively inert resin of a natural or synthetic nature such as the phenol condensation product known generally under the name of Bakelite. In general, any

synthetic or natural material maybe used which pable ,of withstanding a temperature in the neighborhood of 300 F. to 350 F.

Having once set forth the proposition that the insert should be one of relatively low heat conductivity as compared to a metallic member and particularly of the characteristics of the materials hereinbefore set forth, it is obvious that those skilled in the art can provide other materials other than those specifically mentioned such as fiber compositions and the like. It is obvious however, that materials which are incapable of maintaining their low thermal conductivity in usage are not suitable. For example, a hygroscopic material such as cloth which takes up moisture is not suitable for use in the iron of the present invention. The taking up of moisture impairs the low thermal conductivity of material of this character soon after the steam treatment has been started. It is also obvious that those materials are not suitable even before they have absorbed moisture in as much as the absorption of moistureprior to saturation tends to dry the steam being used.

It may be noted whenproceeding in accordance with thepresent invention that the steam is generated or superheated and is then fedto a pressing face which is of such anature that the steam in passing through the face will not be raised in temperature so that the free moisture content thereof will be maintained. An-

other feature in the increase of the free moisture content is the fact that the steam in passing through the relatively low resistant slots will not be subjected to throttle effect which would tend to decrease the free moisture thereof.

In Figures 8 and 9 modified inserts of Transite or other suitable material as hereinbefore set forth are shown. The insert Ala in Figure 8 protrudes from the bottom face of the iron so that during the pressing operation the metal ide of the iron would not ordinarily come in contact with the material being treated. Obviously in the type of insert as shown in Figures 5 to 7, the edge of the sole plate surrounding the insert 41 functions as a pressing surface; whereas, in the modification shown in Figure 8, since this surface is below the level of the Transite insert Ala, it would not normally come in contact with'the material although it could be placed in contact with the material by the operator tilting the iron during use and may be suitably rounded off to effect this purpose.

InlFigure 9 a further modification is disclosed wherein the insert 4112, which may be also made of a suitable material having low thermal conductivity is countersunk into the pressing face of the iron. In this modification, the sole of the iron surrounding the insert is adapted to function as a pressing surface and the insert itself does not come in contact with the material While still performing its function as hereinbefore disclosed. Although in the preferred embodiment, screws 49 and 50 are shown for removably fastening the insert 41 to the iron, other means may be employed. For example, the insert may be cemented in place or the screws may be covered with a suitable cement to prevent removal of the insert. Instead of pre-forming an insert and fastening the same to the iron, the insert material may be cast or molded in place by any of the well-known methods. For example, a plastic mass of cement and asbestos may be placed in the recess ofthe iron and allowed to set in order to form an insert equivalent to the Transite.

As has been previously set forth in the preferred embodiment, the steam feeding means consists of a relatively long steam outlet slot of a relatively great width as compared to the slots of=the prior art; the width of the slot being preferably of the order of one sixteenth of an inch. Preferably'a slot of this character is used 'with a suitable bafiiing'means "which would be effective to prevent the unrestricted outlet of steam and water .from the iron while introducing a minimum of resistance to steam flow. Although this baflling means ispreferably a spring such as spring 39, other suitable means may be used such as a screen .provided with relatively large openings of the orderof one sixteenth of an inch or spaced rods or a loose fibrous material such as steel wool. Preferably in all these instances, the bafiling material is easily removable so that it may be replaced and/or cleaned when necessary. Although in the preferred embodiment two slots in general triangular positioning are shown, additional slots may be used and these slots arranged in any'suitable position.

Thechannels may also be provided with baffiing means which consist of angularly disposed metal ribbons such as shown in my prior Patent No. 1,942,579. These ribbonsmay be used both in the channels in the iron and for bafiiing the slots.

While it has been stated that the slots present in the sole of the iron are approximately one sixteenth of an inch wide, it is obvious that this may bedeparted from and still come within the spirit of the present invention. The slots may be considerably wider or somewhat less than one sixteenth of an inch in width, the criterion being that no fine openings, perforations or the like are present which may become clogged because of the deposition of scale, and that preferably, although not absolutely necessary, bailling means are provided in combination with the slot, said bailling means functioning to prevent a large volume of steam issuing from the broad slots, and in the preferred form of the invention the bafiling means serve to subdivide the steam.

It is to be noted further that it is desirable, in order to promote the smooth, even feed of steam of known characteristics, i. e., steam of a given quality, that the means, for feeding the steam to the material being treated, desirably does not restrict the flow of steam to any great extent. Restriction of the flow of steam tends to produce relatively dry steam in accordance with the well known throttle effect. The use of relatively wide, preferably suitably bailled slots in combination with the cushioning means or dead end chamber results in a smooth even flow of steam of a desired quality to the materials undergoing treatment. This smooth even flow will not vary during the life of the iron since the orifice is of a sufficient width to prevent clogging with a resultant change in orifice size and outlet pressure.

It is desired to point out that the basic concept of one form of the invention is to use a slot wide enough to inhibit any tendency for clogging and combine therewith a, means which will prevent a stream of steam the size of the slot from issuing therefrom. Instead of using a periorated member as typified by a coil spring or by a screen having large openings therein, there may be used an imperforate member spaced from the interior wall edges bounding the slot so that steam may issue from the aperture formed between the solid member and the edges of the slot.

The imperforate solid member may take the form of a rod disposed in general parallelism with the slot and spaced therefrom so as to al-- low the exit of steam between the rod and the walls of the slot. By providing a rod which may be adjusted in position relative to the slot and which is of somewhat larger diameter than the slot, the effective size of the openings between the rod and the edges of the slot can be varied, thus providing a variable outlet for the steam.

A variable outlet is illustrated in Figure wherein the rod 53 is shown as supported by a set screw 54. Inward movement of the screw 52 will serve to raise the rod 53 and thus increase the effective width of the slot 31. Outward movement of the screw 54 will allow the rod 53 to drop and partially close the slot 31.

In place of a rod, other baffling members may be used to produce a variable outlet; for example, a solid strip of material either spaced from the slot or provided with suitable openings may be placed in a suitable position so as to baffle and vary the effective size of the outlet.

It is desired to further point out that although in the preferred embodiment a spiral bailiing member having spaced convolutions is spoken of as a spring, it is to be understood that the term spring is to be used in a broad sense, i. e. any suitable spiral member having spaced convolutions is to be deemed the full equivalent thereof and that where the term spring is used in the specification and claims, such a member is intended whether or not the member possesses resilient and/or spring-like qualities.

The relatively wide steam feeding orifice herein set forth, as typified by slots, the latter preferably being used in combination with baflling means, may be incorporated in an iron fed with live steam generated extraneously of the iron, or may be used as feeding means in any suitable pressing and/or steam treating implements, as typified by pressing and steaming machines provided with movable platens or rolls.

It is to be also noted that the provision of a pressing face composed at least in part of a non-hygroscopic material of low heat conductivity, as for example Transite, may also be used in steam treating and/or pressing implements, as well as in the iron disclosed in the specific form of the present invention.

I claim:

1. In a steam iron including a steam generating means, a pressing face, an insert in said face composed of a non-hygroscopic material of low thermal conductivity, means to retain said insert in said face and a steam feeding orifice in said insert.

2. In a steam iron including a steam generating means, a pressing face, an insert in said face composed of a non-hygroscopic material of low thermal conductivity, means to retain said insert in said, face, an elongated feeding means of suflicient width to prevent clogging in said insert and means to retard the flow of steam within said insert and bafile the steam emitted from said feeding means, said means including spaced portions extending transversely of the feeding means to divide the flow through the feeding means into a plurality of' increments.

3. In a steam iron including a steam supply source, a pressing face at least in part composed of a non-hygroscopic material of low thermal conductivity and an elongated steam feeding means of sufficient width to prevent clogging in said pressing face and means to retard the flow of steam within said insert and baiiie the steam emitted from said feeding means, said means including spaced portions extending transversely of the feeding means to divide the flow through the feeding means into a plurality of increments.

4. In a steam iron including a steam supply source, a pressing face at least in part composed of a non-hygroscopic material of low thermal conductivity, a channel in said iron, elongated steam feeding openings leading from said channel to said face and bailling means within said channel including spaced portions extending transversely of the openings cooperating with said openings to emit the steam in the form of small evenly divided increments, said baffling means also functioning to retard the flow of aasaeee 5 6. In a steam iron including a. steam supply source, a pressing face, said face being in part composed of non-hygroscopic material of low thermal conductivity, said part of said pressing face being vertically ofiset from the remainder of the face and steam feeding means in said part of said pressing face.

7. In a steam iron including a steam supply source, a pressing face, said face being in part composed of a non hygroscopic material of low 10 thermal conductivity protruding from the rewi der of the race and steam feeding means in said part of said pressing face.

8. In a steam iron including a, steam supply source, a pressing face; said face being in part composed of a non-hygroscopic material of low thermal conductivity countersunk from the remder of the race and steam feeding means in said part of said pressing tee 

